So I just started learning to swim. 23 years old. =)
Former Member
I didn't like the water when I was little and I've been ignoring the problem ever since.
Well, I went to Florida with my girlfriend a few weeks ago and she's quite a good swimmer -- effortless strokes. That did it. Time to learn, I told myself.
I ran into this forum searching the net, and I thought you folks wouldn't mind if I shared my experiences here. Maybe you can give me a pointer or two.
So I bought 10 hours of private lessons to start. My instructor is quite friendly and helpful.
I've had two hours of lessons so far. We've covered kicks, floats and breathing for now... no strokes yet.
On my back, without any assistance, I can swim a length of the pool just with my kicks, arms relaxed.
On my front I have no problem kicking either, but I don't have the breathing quite right -- it's been a bit frustrating.
(Swimming is hard! Can 99% of the planet really do this?)
I have several problems with the breathing:
1. I know I have to empty my lungs under water, but I blow bubbles, and more bubbles, and more bubbles... still more bubbles... and I find it hard to exhale completely. The water resists me.
2. When I turn up for air, due to the above problem, I usually haven't finished exhaling... so I finish exhaling out of the water (this would go
away if I could solve problem 1.) and then try to inhale. At this point I usually take in a bunch of water and I have to stop to catch my breath and cough up the water.
I think the major problem is actually 1. I have a feeling that if I could just empty my lungs fast enough while under water, I would probably be able to catch a very quick breath when I turn my head to breath.
Other than that, I'm also having minor problems with the front and back float. On the front float, my legs always sink. On the back float I do better, but I have trouble getting my midsection to the surface of the water, even with a really good push off the bottom to get me up there. But when my instructor physically pushes my skinny ass up there, then I can float for a bit.
I suppose my progress is pretty good for a complete beginner with a mere two hours in the water in his entire life, but it's also quite frustrating. I wasn't expecting breathing to be a big problem.
Right now I'm doing two lessons per week with my instructor. One half hour on Wed. and one full hour on Thurs. I have the time, willpower, and money to do more lessons per week... do you folks recommend this for someone at my level?
I think that's enough of my blabbing for now. =)
Parents
Former Member
I think what you are trying to do is pretty cool. And it sounds like you are making remarkably fast progress. Just be patient and practice. You could do more lessons, but once you understand the basics (even if you can’t do them) I’d think one lesson a week would be plenty. Try to work up to 3 practices a week… 3 to 5x/wk will show you the most progress. And be patient.
Vids and articles will help you a bunch, and help you get your ya-ya’s out since you can’t be in the pool all the time. The USMS.org web is a good place to start. And keep asking questions here too. There have been a number of returning, starting over, or learning swimmers here on this board lately, so have a go at searching the archives (click link in page header). I know there was a thread or two recently that dealt with breathing issues.
However... most vids and articles (especially) on the web are going to target advanced swimmers. While these resources will show you the latest technique examples, you may want to take them w/ a grain of salt since you have a lot of ground to cover between where you are now and looking like them. The “water flying everywhere” bit is a good example, it does not have to be this way, in fact flying water usually indicates wasted energy, except maybe in a sprint. Watch some long distance swimmers, especially those who focus on “front quadrant swimming” (for front crawl) and you will notice that they splash very little. IMHO the best swimmers are those who barely seem to be moving, but when you swim next to them (or time them) you realize they are flying.
You don’t always have to get water in your mouth, but you always will sometimes. I almost never get water up my nose (except underwater on my back). Just try different stuff in practice and be patient. Try and notice how your body feels going through the water and seek the path of least/most resistance. (The least resistance for everything except that which drives you forward.)
You already have realized one of the most important concepts in swimming (or any sport really) and that is the idea of resting the muscles you don’t need while using the muscles you do need to get the job done. You are already well on your way. Any you are absolutely correct: if you can do it well slow, you can do it better fast. Frame by frame vids are great (I used them to teach myself butterfly). And if you ask 10 swimmers how to do something you will not get 10 identical answers, just take what you like and leave the rest.
Try visiting this site/page and look for the heading"Slowly does it". i thought this was an excellent read. there are a bunch of other good articles on this site too, here is a list.
There are a lot of really good swimmers on this message board who really know their stuff and can articulate it well. (And some have webs of their own, so look for them too.) This thread is a good example. Fell free to start any thread on any question you have. Thanks for dropping by, and Welcome!
And don’t forget to be patient... And practice!
I think what you are trying to do is pretty cool. And it sounds like you are making remarkably fast progress. Just be patient and practice. You could do more lessons, but once you understand the basics (even if you can’t do them) I’d think one lesson a week would be plenty. Try to work up to 3 practices a week… 3 to 5x/wk will show you the most progress. And be patient.
Vids and articles will help you a bunch, and help you get your ya-ya’s out since you can’t be in the pool all the time. The USMS.org web is a good place to start. And keep asking questions here too. There have been a number of returning, starting over, or learning swimmers here on this board lately, so have a go at searching the archives (click link in page header). I know there was a thread or two recently that dealt with breathing issues.
However... most vids and articles (especially) on the web are going to target advanced swimmers. While these resources will show you the latest technique examples, you may want to take them w/ a grain of salt since you have a lot of ground to cover between where you are now and looking like them. The “water flying everywhere” bit is a good example, it does not have to be this way, in fact flying water usually indicates wasted energy, except maybe in a sprint. Watch some long distance swimmers, especially those who focus on “front quadrant swimming” (for front crawl) and you will notice that they splash very little. IMHO the best swimmers are those who barely seem to be moving, but when you swim next to them (or time them) you realize they are flying.
You don’t always have to get water in your mouth, but you always will sometimes. I almost never get water up my nose (except underwater on my back). Just try different stuff in practice and be patient. Try and notice how your body feels going through the water and seek the path of least/most resistance. (The least resistance for everything except that which drives you forward.)
You already have realized one of the most important concepts in swimming (or any sport really) and that is the idea of resting the muscles you don’t need while using the muscles you do need to get the job done. You are already well on your way. Any you are absolutely correct: if you can do it well slow, you can do it better fast. Frame by frame vids are great (I used them to teach myself butterfly). And if you ask 10 swimmers how to do something you will not get 10 identical answers, just take what you like and leave the rest.
Try visiting this site/page and look for the heading"Slowly does it". i thought this was an excellent read. there are a bunch of other good articles on this site too, here is a list.
There are a lot of really good swimmers on this message board who really know their stuff and can articulate it well. (And some have webs of their own, so look for them too.) This thread is a good example. Fell free to start any thread on any question you have. Thanks for dropping by, and Welcome!
And don’t forget to be patient... And practice!
